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BUFFALO—Tobias Lindberg teared up a little during the national anthem.

Lindberg, a key Maple Leafs’ prospect acquired from Ottawa in the Dion Phaneuf trade, put on a solid performance and got his first NHL assist in Toronto’s 4-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

And on a team that has had 45 different players suit up — 12 of them, like Lindberg, making their NHL debut — the story of their first game never gets old.

“It was amazing, I was smiling through the first period,” said Lindberg, whose family made it from Sweden in time to see him. “It’s a surreal feeling. I can’t actually believe I played a game in the NHL.

“I tried not to think too much, not get all tensed up and lose the puck. Just have fun and do what I do. I still think it’s going to take me a couple of days to really know I played in the NHL. A couple of years ago it felt so far away.”

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Lindberg joins rookie Kasperi Kapanen and veteran defencemen Andrew Campbell and T.J. Brennan as the latest foursome called up to the Leafs; defencemen Connor Carrick and Rinat Valiev, winger Connor Brown and winger Zach Hyman were sent back to the Marlies.

“This is all part of what we had scripted out,” said Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello. “You never know what will transpire. We wanted to bring players up after the trade deadline, several at the same time, so that they’re comfortable and they can feel relaxed.

“Get as many in and out as we could to get the experience and see how they do, then gradually get everybody back before the end of the season so they can start getting their chemistry together.”

Brooks Laich, set up by Lindberg, scored Toronto’s lone goal; it was Laich’s first as a Leaf.

“It was a relief, actually,” said Laich, on just his second goal of the season. “Scoring goals is fun. It’s been a tough year for myself offensively.”

It was a timely loss and kept the Leafs level on points for last place with the idle Edmonton Oilers. But even outside of draft position, Toronto was likely not going to win Thursday night. Buffalo has magical hold on Toronto when they visit.

The Sabres, on two goals each by Cal O’Reilly and Johan Larsson, are a remarkable 17-1-1 in home games against Toronto over the last 19 contests at the First Niagara Center.

The Leafs have done everything to try to break that jinx — change hotels, arrive two days early, fly instead of taking the bus.

Bringing up four Marlies at once didn’t help. The chaotic nature of the Leafs’ lineup — inserting four new players and bringing back a fifth from injury in Byron Froese — no doubt was part of Toronto’s lacklustre effort even if it is part of a larger plan in terms of developing talent.

“We’re not a group that makes excuses,” said Laich.

For Campbell and Brennan, the season-ending NHL time is a reward for a job well done with the Marlies. Campbell, captain of the Marlies, has had cups of coffee elsewhere in the NHL, but being a Caledonia kid, had a reason to smile through the loss.

“Just to wear the blue and white and look down and see a Maple Leaf on your chest,” said Campbell. “Growing up idolizing that, it was pretty cool.”

For Kapanen, it’s a chance at one-on-one time with coach Mike Babcock, who’ll remind him that dangling the puck in the NHL is not a good idea.

“There are very few guys who get to be danglers and distributors,” Babcock said of Kapanen. “The rest of us have to go to work every single day. He’s got to be one of those guys. He’s got to put his work boots on.”

For the six-foot-three Lindberg, it’s a first chance to see the return the Leafs got in the Phaneuf trade.

The Senators’ fourth-round pick in 2013, Lindberg won the Memorial Cup under coach D.J. Smith (now a Leafs assistant) in Oshawa last year. At 20, he’s the right age to come of age with the rest of the Leaf youth.

“It’s such a thrilling opportunity,” said Lindberg. “I want to become a regular NHLer one day. I couldn’t be with a better organization.”

Of the group of four, Lindberg had the most impressive game.

“He’s very fast,” Laich said of Lindberg. “He took a pass from (Tyler) Bozak, turned on the jets, went wide on the defence. Even the coaching staff, players on the bench said: ‘Geez, that’s some speed burst.’ An NHL-level skater. It was a big debut for him.”

Babcock sounded impressed.

“I liked him a lot, a big body, heavy guy,” said Babcock. “Can shoot the puck. Skate straight ahead. His shot, he’s got a quick release. I was impressed with him.”

Kapanen has already played four games for the Leafs, part of the first post-trade-deadline call-ups.

“I felt more comfortable, and felt like I knew what to do in certain situations,” said Kapanen. “I’m really excited to be here again and make a good last-impression for the season.”

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